Coronaviruses are a family of rapidly-spreading viruses that can give disease to animals, including man. Out of these, seven, including the modern virus in question, have attacked humans. Scientists opine that the members of this virus family seldom get transmitted from animals to humans, and then from person to person. However, most of these viruses usually give only some common cold-like symptoms, or at the most, symptoms of flu (i.e. influenza, including fever and cough). When the virus broke out for the first time, it was known as a ‘novel’ strain of the coronavirus family (and hence the name ‘novel’).
COVID-19 stands for ‘Corona Virus Disease 2019’ (wherein, 2019 is the year in which it was first isolated). It is the name given to the disease caused by the present coronavirus. COVID-19 is, actually, a respiratory disease that was first diagnosed in China in December 2019.
The people that were infected sought for medical help with flu-like characteristics, accompanied by fever and cough. However, since this is a very new disease, scientists and doctors are still learning about it.
As opposed to common belief, this virus is far less severe than a few other members of its family. For instance, two other coronaviruses, viz. MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which first occurred in Guangdong, a province in southern China), are much more deadly, claiming the lives of more than 1,500 people since 2002.
The very first infection of the coronavirus is generally thought to have started from contact with animals through meat consumption; however, the health officials still have no idea as to what animal caused the COVID-19 infection. The virus then began spreading from human to human.
As mentioned earlier, it was in December 2019 that the virus appeared in the city of Wuhan in China with the health officials still trying to trace the exact source. Hypotheses suggested that the virus might have been linked to a market in Wuhan selling seafood since several early incidents suggested that many of those who visited the market ended up getting contracted with a similar kind of viral pneumonia caused by the new COVID-19 virus.
The virus can spread through physical or close contacts, as well as, with a few bodily fluids like sneeze or cough droplets, and of course, by touching an object that an already-infected person has used or touched, and then touching your own face area, including your nose, eyes, mouth, and so on.
Very recent studies have shown that the deadly virus might have passed from human to human. Also, in many cases, community spread, i.e. people belonging to a specific area getting infected with COVID-19 has also been seen. In fact, most of the victims have no idea as to how or where they got infected. Quite alarmingly, the coronavirus has been detected in the population throughout China, along with more than 100 other countries, including the US.
A research study that came out on 25 January 2020 reported that the first individual who showed the presence of coronavirus in his body was actually affected on 1 December 2019. It also reported that the person had no link or connection with the seafood market in Wuhan. In fact, vigorous researches and studies are still on to understand the actual characteristics, origination and spread of this virus.
Presently, World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are studying the new virus, and monitoring the ways in which it is spreading throughout the world. Health organizations, including ‘Johns Hopkins’, have also taken the issue seriously, keeping a track on the virus and the resultant outbreak. WHO declared the outbreak as a worldwide public health emergency on 30 January, 2020.
